Harness trimmer and burnisher



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. P. GR PE 0. KEOK.

HARNBSS TRIMMER'AND BURNISHER. .No. 372,310. Patented Nov. 1, 1887.

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(No Model.)

v 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. W. F. GRAP & 0. KEGK.

HARNESS TRIMMER AND BURNISHER. No. 372.310. Patented Nov. 1, 1887.

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WILLIAM F. GRAF AND CHRISTIAN KEOK, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

HARNESS TRIMMER AND BURNISHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 372,310, dated November 1, 1887.

Application filed August l, 18in. Serial No.246,100. (No modem To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM F. GRAF and CHRISTIAN Knox, citizens of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Harness and Belt Trimmers and Burnishers, of which the followingis a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying 1o drawings, forming part of this specification.

Our invention relates to an improvement in harness and belt trimmers and burnishers, and is more especially designed to trim and burnish the edges of leather used in harness, making belts, 8m.

' It consists in a set or series of revolving knives set in a frame provided with adjustable jaws or guides so-arranged that as the leather is passed between the guides the knives trim the edges to an exact and even surface. The knives can then be replaced by metal plates with around smooth edge instead of a cutting-edge, which burnish the edges already trimmed.

It also consists of a novel construction and arrangement of the parts, so that by a single movement of a lever or treadle the jaws or guides open and move apart to receive the leather and automatically adjust themselves to any unevenness of size or surface.

It alsoconsists in a novel construction and arrangement of the knives, by which blades of different shapes may be applied to the same carrier to give different shapes to the edge of the leather to be trimmed, and in combining with these knives what are known as edging-tools for trimming the corners by one and the same movement.

It also consists in a novel arrangement" of 0 the jaws or guides, by which both guides may be made to move simultaneously in opposite directions, or by which either guide or jaw may be kept stationary while the other is moved.

In the accompanying drawings,forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of our improved harness-trimming machine. Fig. 2 is a top plan view. Fig. 3 is a top plan view in section taken through the line a: m, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing the jaws or guides and the frame carrying them arranged to have the lower jaw stationary while the upper one moves. Fig. 5 is a crosssection of the jaws and frames carrying them arranged so that both jaws move simultaneously in opposite directions. Fig. 6 is a crosssection showing the shaft carrying the rock-shafts shown in Fig. 5 and spring. Fig. 7 is a section of the shaft carrying the rock-shafts, showing the manner of attaching the spring. Fig. 8 is an elevation, partly in section, of the jaws arranged so that the upper jaw is stationary while the lower one moves. Fig. 9 is a side and end view of one ofthe jaws with the corner-cutting knife attached. Fig. 10 is an end section of the treadle and sprocket-chains for operating the device. Fig. 11 is a top and side view of the cutting-knives and revolving block carrying them.

Like letters of reference indicate identical parts in all the various figures.

In describing the machine we will referto it as used for trimming a harness-trace,though its use and operation are the same when applied to belts or any other form of leather. A harness-trace is made of several strips of leather sewed together, the edges of which should be trimmed evenly and smoothly, always leaving a sufficient margin beyond the stitching.

threads. It is difficult to trim these edges properly, as the leather is liable to vary in thickness and in width, the seam or stitches sometimes come nearer the edge at some points than at others, and the trimmeris liable to out too close to the seam.

The object of our invention is to trim these edges in such a way as to overcome these difficulties, as well as provide a speedy and economical means of so doing.

In Fig. 1, A A is a frame or support made of wood or metal. On this frame are journaled two perpendicularshafts, B B, which are revolved in opposite directions by the belt 0, passing around the pulleys D D from opposite directions, or pressing against the pulleys on opposite sides, as shown in Fig. 3. 'N ear the upper ends of these shafts are fastened blocks of metal. Square blocks are shown in the drawings; but they may be of any desired shape, according to the number and relative position of the'knives to be used. To each face of these blocks is attached a cutting-knife, a, Fig. 11. These knives are preferably attached by a ICO screw and slot, a, in the knife-blade, by which means the knife is made adjustable, and as the edge wears or is ground off it may be moved forward. These blocks carrying the knives are revolved by the belt in opposite directions, the edges, of course, toward the direction of motion. \Vhen the edges have been trimmed or the machine is to be used as a burnisher, the knives are removed and plates of metal of a size similar to the knives are sub stituted, which have, instead of a cuttingedge, a round smooth polishing-edge, and the leather is again passed through the machine. These burnishing-surfaces press against and smooth or burnish the edges. On either side of the space between these knives are guides consisting of twojaws, E E. Thesejaws are arranged to leave a space, F, of a size and shape to permit the trace or piece of harness to be trimmed to pass through, and in order that they may hold it snugly springs G are provided, which press the jaws together, but not with sufficient tension to bind the trace.

The guides and knives are so adjusted that as the trace is passed through from one side to the other the knives, revolving rapidly, trim off just as much of the edge of the trace as desired, the amount, of course, being regulated by the relative position of the guides and knives.

As the trace fits snugly in the space provided by the guides, it is necessary, in order to operate rapidly, to open the guides to release the finished trace and receive a new one and close them again quickly. For that reason we have so constructed the machine that the guides open by simultaneous movements, perpendicularly and laterally, and automatically close again. \Ve prefer to construct the guides of two pieces of metal on each side, E E and E E, the upper ends of which are turned at right angles, as shown, forming jaws,between which isa space, F, for the passage of the trace. These jaws may he opened by moving one or both pairs laterally apart and by moving the inner or lower ones, E E, down, or the outer ones, E E, up.

\Ve support the shaft B and the parts attached to it on slotted frames H H, so that the shaft B, knife which revolves on it, and thcjaws or half of the guide on that side can all slide together laterally. They are held in position by the spring I, and attached to the shaft B, or a subordinate frame about it, are cords or sprocket chains K K, passing over the pulleys or sproekct-wheels K, and attached to the treadle or lever L. \Vhen these cords or chains are drawn down by the lever L, the shaft B and all that half of the machine are drawn laterally away from the other half, opening the space between the jaws forming the guides and the knives. lVhen the chains are released, the spring I restores them again to their normal position when in operation. In Fig. 1 we have shown the construction of the machine when the jaws or guides are opened perpendicularly by moving the upper jaws, E E, up, leaving the lower ones, E E, stationary.

In order to hold the two jaws in proper relations to one another, we prefer to provide what may be called the outer one, E, with spurs which move in corresponding. vertical slots in the inner one, E, so that they may slide up and down on one another and retain their lateral relations. The spurs may, if preferred, embrace the inner piece instead of moving in aslot. Indeed, any ordinary well-known means may be employed.

In Fig. 5 a pin or screw, P, is inserted in the outer jaw, E, and passes through a slot, I, in the jaw E, permitting the jaws free move ment perpendicularly upon one another, but preventing any side movement. In Fig. 8the pin P is fastened solidly in jaw E, and slides in a slot in E.

Attached to the f ran'ie by lugs, or in any convenient manner, on each side, are pivots M, carrying levers M M. The outer ends of these lovers are attached to blocks R It, which move laterally on the bar N. (Shown more clearly in Fig. 2.) This bar Nis attached, by a rod, N, and spring 0, to the trcadle L. As the rod N is drawn down by the lever or treadle, the outer ends of the lovers Mand M are also drawn down with the bar Nand their inner ends drawn up. As theinner ends move up, they are arranged to catch on the pin 1) on the lower ends of the jaws EE, and force them up against the pressure of the springs G G, thereby opening the space between the jaws or guides perpendicularly. Thus by a single movement of the lever L the knives and jaws are thrown apart laterally and the guides are opened perpendicularly to release the finished trace and receive a new one, when the springs instantly, upon the release of the treadle, restore the parts to their normal position for operation without stopping the machine, and the capacity of the machine is multiplied, so that many traces may be trimmed in the time ordinarily required for one. The spring 0 is used to give elasticity to the motion of the rod N and prevent jarring or breaking the parts. It may also be so constructed that its tension shall be so adjusted relative to the tension of the spring I that the two movements shall not be absolutely simultaneous, but one shall be completed before the other begins, though they are practically simultaneous. The blocks R R are made stationary, when properly adjusted on the bar N, by means of set-screws, while the blocks R R move freely on the bar N to permit the lateral movement of that half of the machine.

In order to adjust the guides and cutters for wider or narrower work, a frame, S, is provided below the table, (shown in Fig. 2,) carrying a bar or red, S, which abuts against the boxing of the shaft B or the framework attached to it. This frame S is adjusted by the screw T, forcing or holding the shaft B, and

all the parts moving with it, away. from the other shaft, according to the width of the work to be done by the machine.

In Fig. 8 the barN and rod Nare shown attached directly to the inner jaws, E E, and

"passing through slots 1? P in the outer jaws,

E E, so that as the rod N is drawn down by the treadle the inner jaws, E E, are moved downward, instead of moving the outer ones up. The rightjaw, E, fits loosely on the bar N, so as to slide laterally also.

In Fig. 5 is shown aconstruction by which both jaws are made to move vertically. The outerjaws, E E, instead of extending all the way down close to and parallel with the jaws E E',are bent outward at right angles, as at E E and then again downwardly, passing between lugs or guides A On the frame or support B twoshafts,O ,extndacrossthemachine, on the right and left of each pair of guides. Tli'ese shafts carry at each end a rock-shaft, D On the jaws are teats orlugs f f, between which the ends of the rock-shaft fit. The bar N is attached to the inner jaws, and as they are pulled down by the rod Nthe rock-shafts D are tipped, the inner ends being pulled down by the lugs on the inner jaws, and the outer ends being of course tipped up and pushing up "with them the outer jaws, E E. Thus the'jaws are made to move simultaneously in opposite directions. The rod N may be attached directly to the rock-shafts,or the shafts carrying them, if preferred. H 'is a spring on the shaft 0 for holding it in position and restoring it to knives a and substitute for them burnishers which have, instead of a sharp cutting-edge, a smooth rounded edge, and they are of course adjusted so as to press against the edges of the trace being passed through the machine.

The cutting edge of the knives to may be made square or round, or partly round, as shown in Fig. 11, their shape depending upon the form of the cut to be made, which varies with different kinds of work. The form of the guides may also be varied to fit different kinds of work.

Having thus fully described our invention, what. we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A harness or leather trimming machine having revolving adjustable knives, substantially as described, and elastic guides consisting of a set ofjaws, two upper and two lower, for feeding the material to be trimmed, so as to regulate the amount of the cut and hold the material firmly without binding, substantially as and for the purpose described. 7'

2. A harness or leather trimming machine provided with revolving knives and elastic guides E E and E E, said guides being arranged, by means substantially as described, to open perpendicularly and laterally, to release the finished work and receive the new piece and automatically close again, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In aharness orleather trimming machine, the guides for feeding the material, consisting of an upper and lower pair ofjaws, the upper and lower pairs being adjustable perpendicularly, and the two on one side (including one upper and one lower) adjustable laterally, substantially as and in the manner described.

4. In a harness or leather trimming machine, the guides for feeding the material, consisting of an upper and lower pair ofjaws, an upper and lower jaw on one side being adjustable laterally, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. In a harness or leather trimming machine, the revolving cutters mounted on shafts, in combination with feeding guides or jaws E E and E E, one of the shafts being movable laterally and provided with a spring for holding it in position for operation, and a chain or cord, K, for moving it laterally with one upper and one lower jaw without stopping the machine, substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. In a harness or leather trimming machine, the revolving knives adjustable to and from one another, and the guides adjustable both laterally and perpendicnlarl y by a single lever, and provided with springs which restore them to their working position upon the release of the lever, substantially as and for the purpose described.

7. In aharness or leather dressing machine, the jaws E E and E E and revolving knives a, arranged as described, in combination with the knives K for cutting the corners of the trace or belt, substantially as and for the purpose described.

WILLIAM F. GRAB. CHRISTIAN KEGK.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR STEM, GEORGE HEID uAN. 

